NEWS HEADLINES

A prosecutor has been appointed to continue the case against suspended Precinct 4 County Commissioner Terry Ross.

Terry Ross

District Judge Roger Towery filed an order Tuesday appointing Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Robert Gill. No trial date has been set.

Ross will be tried for tampering with governmental records, theft of $500 to $1,500 by a public servant, and abuse of official capacity greater than $20 and less than $500. The trial has been delayed three times, most recently when District Attorney Greg Lowery recused himself and his office from the case after being reminded that he represented Ross in a criminal matter 16 years ago.

The current trial stems from May 2012 indictments of Ross for tampering with government records and abuse of official capacity for allegedly building a playhouse on public property, using county employees on county time and using supplies purchased with county money.

It was seized from Ross’ home Feb. 7, 2012, as part of an investigation that started in late 2011.

Towery suspended Ross without pay in August 2012 until the outcome of his criminal trial, which was then scheduled to start Oct. 30.

On Oct. 22, Ross was charged with theft of $500 to $1,500 by a public servant for allegedly building three grubbing plows, two for personal use. The plows were built with material belonging to the county, on county time by county employees, according to the arrest warrant affidavit filed in County Court-at-Law No. 1.

After that charge was filed, his trial was pushed back from Oct. 30 to Feb. 19. It was delayed once more, to April 23, but was postponed again upon Lowery’s recusal.

Leave a Reply. Note: As of March 24, 2011, all posted comments will include the users full name.